The effect of mare obesity and endocrine function on foal birthweight in Thoroughbreds

Abstract

Background: Birthweight of Thoroughbred foals has increased in recent years. It is unknown whether this is associated with increased broodmare obesity or endocrine dysfunction. Objectives: To determine insulin, leptin and triglyceride concentrations in Thoroughbred mares throughout gestation and investigate their association with obesity and foal birthweight. Study design: Cohort study. Methods: A total of 66 mares were included from 40 days post-breeding. Body condition score (BCS), weight and blood samples were obtained every 60 days throughout gestation. Serum/plasma insulin, leptin and triglyceride concentrations and foal birthweight were recorded. Associations between hormone/triglyceride concentration with BCS, stage of gestation and birthweight were analysed using a linear mixed effects model. Results: Serum insulin concentrations were greater at 1–60 days (4.31 μiu/mL) compared with 241–300 days (3.13 μiu/mL) and 61–120 days (5.33 μiu/mL) compared with 181–240, 241–300 and 301–360 days (3.78, 3.13, 3.37 μiu/mL) gestation (P<0.05). There was no significant hyperinsulinaemia and no association of insulin concentration with BCS. Leptin concentration was greater at 181–240 days (2.28 μg/L, P<0.0001) compared with all other time points and correlated with BCS (P<0.0003). Triglyceride concentration was greater at 241–300 days (0.245 mmol, P<0.02) compared with earlier time points, but was not associated with BCS. Foal birthweight was weakly positively correlated with BCS (r = 0.13, P<0.001) and inversely correlated with leptin concentrations at 61–120 and 241–300 days gestation (r = −0.64, P<0.05). Main limitations: Reduction in sample size over the study and tight clustering of BCS. Conclusions: Mare BCS correlated with foal birthweight; obese mares had heavier foals. Significant hyperinsulinaemia was not identified in this population. Increased leptin concentration in early and late gestation was associated with decreased foal birthweight. Further work is required to establish whether leptin concentration in late gestation could predict foal birthweight.